Singapore opposition icon J.B. Jeyaretnam dies fighting

I was shocked and saddened to learn that J.B. Jeyaretnam had passed away yesterday morning. You never really think about it, but he had become such an icon, a common fixture in our political climate, that you don’t think that there would be a day when he’d no longer be here.

I didn’t agree with all of JBJ’s ideas, but I really respect him for never backing off or making compromises. He fought to make a difference, to do something, effect change for what he thought was right for our country. He stuck to his ideas with an iron will to the very end, despite everything that’s happened to him. I don’t think there are many people around with the sort of tenacity and spirit he had. Bless his soul.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.